From exam halls to primary classrooms: My Moray House journey

Before coming to Edinburgh, I spent five years at a listed education technology company in China, providing English training for written and interview courses linked to professional examinations. I enjoyed the work, but it raised a bigger question: How do people actually learn, rather than simply how do they pass exams? That question led me to Moray House and to the MSc Education. 

'New perspectives on teaching' 

The programme gave me both research training and new perspectives on teaching. My dissertation supervisor, Dr Adriana [Duta], helped me shape my topic and refine my research methods. Our meetings were relaxed but always left me with clearer direction.  

Dr Jingyi [Li]’s [course], ‘The Curriculum: Context, Change and Development’ helped me understand curriculum construction and implementation from different angles, while a group assignment on designing a curriculum project, from research to budgeting, taught me the value of genuine teamwork.

Dr Andrew [Manches]’s "Children and Technology" course made the link between education and technology tangible by bringing real products into class. 

From student to teacher 

After graduating in 2025, I went through a two-month job search and received offers from several public schools before choosing my current school. This was a deliberate step: my previous work had given me a strong foundation in exam training, but I wanted to work more directly with children and put what I had learned into practice. 

My degree supported that move in very concrete ways. It helped me pass CV screening and the school’s written test. During interviews and demo lessons, the group presentation experience I had gained at Moray House helped me handle the process calmly and confidently.  

The design ideas from Dr Jingyi’s curriculum assignment continue to inform my current teaching, while the programme deepened my understanding of subject knowledge, teaching skills and children’s psychology. It also gave me the research confidence to contribute to the reading project I am involved in today. 

'Use the whole University, not just the classroom' 

Of course, Edinburgh gave me more than a degree. I still remember crossing the Meadows to Moray House, studying late in the 24-hour Main Library, and starting weekends with Parkrun in Holyrood Park. 

My advice to current students is simple: use the whole University, not just the classroom, and stay curious about the “why” behind your work. That curiosity is what turned my exam-coaching experience into a genuine commitment to education.